Improvement in thrashing-machines



f FORD, SULLIVAN & GREGG.

l 2 Thrashing Machine. No. 22,718. I Patented Jany 25, 18 59.

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Darren arn rs-s Farmer Darren,

JOHN 13. FORD, ADDISON SULLIVAN AND ALBERT GREGG, OF NE\V ALBANY, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT EN THRASHING MACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. QQJFIIQ, dated January 25, 1859.

To all 1071,0112 it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN 15. FORD, ADDI- soN SULLIVAN, and ALBERT GREGG, of New Albany, in the county of Floyd and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Thrashing and Cutting Machines for Grain; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention consists in the arrangement and combination of the hereinafter described parts of the machine for thrashing and at the same time cutting grain.

In order that those skilled in the arts may make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the annexed drawings, F, G, and II represent portions of the frame-work of the machine, F representing the body part, G G the legs, and II an upright or standard in which the cutting-cylinders have their bearings.

A A represent two cylinders, which are provided with knives and placed in such relation to each other that the knives of the one will interlap with those of the other, as is clearly shown in Figure 1.

G is a cylinder, which is provided with teeth or heaters and is located immediately over a concave B, which is also provided with teeth, as seen in Fig. 1. V

D D represent two screens, which are secured in a vibrating frame, said frame being hung at one end to rod 5 and at the other to a crank at w.

E represents an ordinary fan with arms for the purpose of creating a current of air when operated.

.I is a balance-wheel, and cl is a pulley, which are secured to the shaft which passes through the upper cutting-cylinder.

c is a pulley on the fan-shaft, and a is a pulley on the shaft of the thrashing-cylinder C.

b is an idle wheel or pulley, and q is a belt which passes around the pulleys d, c, b, and a and which serves to communicate motion to the cutting-cylinders, to the fan, andalso to the thrashing-cylinder. r is a pulley on the other end of the shaft of the cylinder 0, by means of which power is applied to the machine.

P is a cap which is secured to the crosspiece on top of the uprights II II. Said cap serves to cover the two cutting-cylinders, at the same time guiding the cut material to the thrashingcylinder and preventing it flying off? and being wasted.

I represents the platform on which the grain is laid when about to be fed to the cutters.

e is a rod, which connects with the fan-shaft by means of a crank at one end and with a crank t' at the other, and serves to convey motion from the fan to the vibrating frame in .which the screen or sieves are secured.

In the operation of this machine the grain is first placed upon the platform I. It thence is fed between the cutting-cylinders A A, where the straw is mashed and cut into very small'pieces. From these cylinders the cut material falls down and passes between the cylinder 0 and concave B, where it is completely thrashed, the grain all being removed from the heads and sheaths in which it is contained. From this thrashing process the ma terial passes into the upper screen D, and there it receives a shaking or vibratory motion, and at the same time is subjected to a strong current of air which comes from the fan. During this shaking process the grain all passes through the sieves or screens and down the inclined sides of the bottom II. and

out of the machine in one direction, while the straw and chaff, not being allowed to pass through the screen, are blown and shaken out at the end of the machine in a different direction.

The advantages of this machine are twofold. The grain, being first out before being thrashed, is thrashed with one-half the power and in much less time and much cleaner than by the old process without cutting. In the second place, the straw, instead of being thrown away, is cut and mashed up in such a manner that by mixing it with other feed it may be used for horses or cattle, as may be ner herein specified, and for the purpose set desired, or it may be fed alone to cattle, 85c. forth.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the cuttingcylinders A A, provided with knives, the cylinder 0 Witnesses: and concave B,pr0videdwith teeth,the screens SAML. O. IANTYN, D, and the fan E, substantially in the man- THOMAS WINDELL.

JOHN B. FORD. ADDISON SULLIVAN. ALBERT GREGG. 

